OPPOSITION NDA MERGES WITH RULING UDF; MPINGANJIRA

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000798

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PINR MI
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION NDA MERGES WITH RULING UDF; MPINGANJIRA
EYEING 2009

REF: A. LILONGWE 559


B. 03 LILONGWE 696


1. (SBU) After only one year as a registered political party
(and over three years of strong anti-United Democratic Front
opposition),Brown Mpinganjira's National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) has de-registered and merged with the UDF. The party's
August 9 decision to join the ruling party, which according
to the press has not gone over well with the NDA's
grassroots, comes after party president Mpinganjira announced
the party's support for the UDF on June 18 (reftel A).


2. (SBU) On UDF Chairman (and former President) Bakili
Muluzi's recent whistle-stop tour "to thank the party's
supporters," Mpinganjira stood faithfully by Muluzi's side in
what appeared to be an attempt to re-introduce the party's
formerly wayward son. To avoid having their seats declared
vacant for "crossing the floor" by changing political
parties, the NDA parliamentarians plan to remain independents
in Parliament.

COMMENT
--------------

3. (SBU) Mpinganjira, who was the UDF's most likely 2004
presidential candidate when he was expelled from the party in
2000, fell out of favor with then President Muluzi when he
would not support Muluzi's bid for a third presidential term.
The creation of the NDA and opposition to the UDF that
ensued were meant to attract Mpinganjira presidential votes
in the 2004 elections. After a dismal defeat (winning less
than 9 percent of the vote),Mpinganjira has likely assessed
the UDF's recent discontent with President Mutharika as his
opportunity to position himself as the UDF's 2009
presidential candidate. In the meantime, the NDA's
disgruntled grassroots supporters will likely align
themselves with other opposition parties.
RASPOLIC